In the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Hollywood studios announced the withdrawal of their films from Russian theaters. At the time, it was considered a major blow to Russia’s entertainment industry – during 2021, Hollywood fare made up 70% of Russia’s cinematic offerings and eight of the top 10 grossing films were Hollywood products, with Sony Pictures’ (NYSE:SONY) “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” as the most commercially successful title with more than $32 million in ticket sales.
However, if one takes a look at the current cinematic line-up in the Russian capital of Moscow, there’s something a bit odd going on. There are no current U.S. titles in official release, but reports have surfaced that these works found their way into Russia via digital piracy. Also being offered are older American films which are getting a second wind via unauthorized re-releases.
